Pakistan has the batsmen to tackle the Aussies. Although I wish the openers were a bit more selective in stroke making.Spetsnatz said:How do you guys see Pakistan's chances in Australia and those of England in South Africa ?
I hope this comes back to haunt me, but I can see Pakistan getting a bit of a hiding.SJS said:Pakistan has the batsmen to tackle the Aussies. Although I wish the openers were a bit more selective in stroke making.
The pace attack is not bad at all . The only rider would be for Shoaib to be banned fropm looking at the speed gun.
I think the relatively weak area is the spin department. I dont know if Mushtaq Ahmeds best days are behind him. Its a shame that Saqlain is not getting his bag of tricks back.
England have a huge chance IMO of beating RSA. I think the key is going to be how good the bowling support for Harmison is.twctopcat said:Will be a big test of SA's nerve, considering they're in a bit of a slum and England haven't been doing too badly in tests lately. If the pitches have a bit of bounce they might succumb to Harmison early and it would be hard seeing them make anything out of the series. But then if Kallis,Gibbs and Smith etc perform you never know. If England bowl well i see an English victory though.
Without checking, I'd guess it's a long time since anyone other than Australia won a series in South Africa (apart from South Africa, of course), but England must start as favourites.Spetsnatz said:How do you guys see Pakistan's chances in the test series against Australia and those of England in South Africa ?
Kaneria is the best Pakistan has at present but I think they will always prefer Afridi to him since they see the difference in bowling as much less and in batting there isnt a comparison. Also the new coach seems to have great faith in Afridi.garage flower said:I hope this comes back to haunt me, but I can see Pakistan getting a bit of a hiding.
The batting still looks over-reliant on Inzy and Youhana, though Hameed looks a fabulous talent. Not convinced by the openers and I think it's crucial that they perform and give Inzy/YY the chance to dominate rather than survive.
From what I've seen, the pace attack is potentially pretty good, but I'm not sure about the fitness of Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul. Without these two, Pakistan may rely too heavily on the mercurial Shoaib.
With regard to spin, what about Kaneria? Do you think he'll trouble the Aussies?
If this happens it wil be due to lack of a good start. Pakistan's openers are too aggressive and play the same game irrespective of bowlers, circumstances or wickets. I had once termed it as misplaced bravado. I still cant find a better term to describe the way they display their unbridled talent.garage flower said:I hope this comes back to haunt me, but I can see Pakistan getting a bit of a hiding.
?
Fair enough comment.KennyD said:^agree theres class in the pakistan team, but enough to beat the aussies?
nah!
Sure it will be the closest for years. Australia are looking a lesser dominant force and England are resurgent. But whether the gap is bridged ...doubtful ..very doubtful.KennyD said:actually one thing Im worried about for the aussies is the next ashes series. WIth the Poms looking the best they have in like 15 years i worry just a little if England have their guns blazing and their pitches are suiting them, well i just wonder if it will be the closest ashes series for ages.
well i hope not, i hope the aussies head out to england and whack them in every game!SJS said:Sure it will be the closest for years. Australia are looking a lesser dominant force and England are resurgent. But whether the gap is bridged ...doubtful ..very doubtful.
Take Stuart McGill along. That will surely helpKennyD said:well i hope not, i hope the aussies head out to england and whack them in every game!
Gap? What gap? Apart from Warne and Mcgrath not being as good as they were (though still very good), one of the main points of optimism is that there is no Steve Waugh, so the mainstay when the chips were down in the aussie side when the pressure was on. We still have Thorpe, could be a big point.SJS said:Sure it will be the closest for years. Australia are looking a lesser dominant force and England are resurgent. But whether the gap is bridged ...doubtful ..very doubtful.
Okay. Lets look at them man for man.twctopcat said:Gap? What gap? Apart from Warne and Mcgrath not being as good as they were (though still very good), one of the main points of optimism is that there is no Steve Waugh, so the mainstay when the chips were down in the aussie side when the pressure was on. We still have Thorpe, could be a big point.
But in recent series - and there are already numerous examples in the current series - other Aussie batsmen have excelled under pressure.twctopcat said:Gap? What gap? Apart from Warne and Mcgrath not being as good as they were (though still very good), one of the main points of optimism is that there is no Steve Waugh, so the mainstay when the chips were down in the aussie side when the pressure was on. We still have Thorpe, could be a big point.
At the moment, it would be Anderson or Jones rather than Gough, but that doesn't dramatically affect the comparison.SJS said:BOWLING
Kasprowicz Gough
PS I amy have left out someone. Please feel free to point out.